If you notice pain in the area of a tendon (wrist, shoulder, heel, hip, heel) you need to immediately treat your injury so it does not worsen. There are some home remedies for tendonitis. A doctor can instruct you on the best treatment for your recuperation. With rest and treatment you will be able to return to exercising or your sport within a few weeks.
The most important part of treating your tendonitis is to rest. You must be patient and stop the activity (exercising or sports) until your tendonitis is completely healed. If you try to return to activity before your tendon is healed you can do further injury and then you will be out longer. Resting will help heal your tendonitis because it decreases the swelling. You may be able to swim while your tendon is healing.
The second method of treatment is ice. Cold causes the blood vessels to constrict (get smaller) which will reduce the inflammation (swelling). You can make an ice pack at home by putting crushed ice into a plastic bag and wrapping the bag with a towel apply it to the injured area. You will need to apply the ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time for 3 to 4 times a day for the first 2 or 3 days or until the pain subsides. Be careful not to sleep on the ice pack as this can cause frostbite.
There are other ways besides ice to deal with the pain of tendonitis. You can use over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin (except children and teens), or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine to control both pain and inflammation (swelling). Be careful with NSAIDs because they can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain individuals. Always read label instructions carefully and follow them.
Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy after you have healed initially. They exercises will help increase the flow of blood and decrease the pain, stretch your tendon and allow it to be flexible again. These exercises will make your tendon strong again.
Shoe inserts give you better control, support and padding that is needed to help decrease the stress when you are recovering from Achilles tendonitis.
You may be told to do stretching exercises at home that are designed to strengthen your muscles so that your tendon will have less stress on it.
Sometimes steroid injections are needed to decrease inflammation or to control pain before physical therapy.
Surgery is a last resort if other treatments do not work. Surgery is also needed if the tendon ruptures.
Other appliances that help to heal a tendon are taping, casting, and wearing a brace or special boot. These aid the tendon while it is healing by supporting it and taking the stress off of it so it can heal.
